Republican Lawmakers Taking Aim at UN

WASHINGTON — Newly empowered Republican lawmakers are taking their first shots at the United Nations, depicting it as bloated and ineffective as they seek to cut government funding for it.

On Tuesday, a House of Representatives panel will air criticisms of the U.N. in a briefing urging congressional action.

Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen will preside over the briefing as chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She is seeking cuts and has introduced a bill intended to pressure the United Nations to change and to make dues voluntary. She also is promising investigations of corruption and mismanagement.

The United States is the largest U.N. contributor, responsible for 22 percent of its regular budget and 27 percent of its peacekeeping operations.

WASHINGTON Newly empowered Republican lawmakers are taking their first shots at the United Nations, depicting it as bloated and ineffective as they seek to cut government funding for it.On Tuesday, a House of Representatives panel will air criticisms of the U.N. in a...